It's been very gratifying to see Offensive Tackles finally get the Respect that they have so long richly deserved.

These are the Aspects of their Games that I place greatest emphasis on, when evaluating Offensive Tackles:

Power. Above all: Core Power. Upper body Strength is important, but Core Power, from the Knees to the Ribs, is absolutely crucial. All the upper body strength in the world still fails if you can't dig in your heels. But Core Power enables a Lineman to project Power in the Running Game and to reject Power in the Passing Game. And those Players who invest the time and effort to develop superior Core Power are far likelier to enjoy sustained good Health and stay on the Field.

Agility. Lateral Velocity, Acceleration, and above all: Fluidity or Core Agility. Core Agility is even more essential to sustained good Health ~ and to sustained good FootBall ~ than Core Power. The ability to react with Serpentine smoothness is a tremendous asset in all Aspects of the Game, and certainly in the Hand to Hand Combat that characterizes Trench Warfare. All the Power in the World goes only so far if you're stiff and lumbering out there.

Combat Skills. Mechanics. Launch Velocity, Paw Power, and Technique.

Intangibles. Diagnostic Capacity, Processing Speed, and Motor. How effectively he masters Spatial Diagnostics & Angles, how rapidly he recognizes and implements Blocking Schemes based on changing Defensive Tactics, and of course: Drive. How badly he wants it. These are of course difficult things to assess, but it's crucial to at least try to.

JaWuan James certainly has the look of a successful Offensive Tackle. And his Stock has risen considerably, over the last month or two, which strongly suggests that Scouts ~ the guys who know infinitely more about this than I ~ are quietly talking this guy up...a strong indication that I am missing something...which'd hardly be the first time.But I just don't think that his Game is that impressive. There's decent Power and excellent Agility, but his Stamina has been poor, and there are huge questions about his Motor. The Talent is definitely there to warrant a 2nd Round Pick, but I believe that there's a lot of Risk, here.

Please Note: This and all Evaluations issued by this Site are produced by a ludicrously unqualified Amateur, privy to not even the tiniest fraction of Coach's Tape, Scouting Expertise, Face to Face Interviewing, Experience, or Inside Information enjoyed by the Professionals. As such, anything put forth is certainly misinformed, euphonious, derivative Tripe, and should be rejected out'f hand and indeed shunned by all men of Good Will!!